We hunted area 10 for some time. I have family that lives in Elko and we have hunted areas 10, 6 and 7. Very pretty country. Lots of ghost towns and mines too, which usually were taken in while hunting
101-103 are truly the best though in area 10 IMO. lots of Vegas folk like it too, though I think 6 might be the best. Anyways:
The reports of bad access on the west side of 101-102 is true, has been for some time. A lot of the area is ranch land, and due to ignorant people doing everything from leaving gates open to shooting cattle the ranchers don't care to make it easy to get in. Granted, they are supposed to allow access, but I can see their side as well. Plus you have lots of home build up in the area as well. Then the Indian Reservation down by Lee gives you limited access. About the best you'll be able to do is hunt the Secret Pass gap area on the west side, that's the southern boundary line for the 2 areas. Not too much experience on the east side of 101 as we only tried it a couple of times, 102 east is limited since it's the backside of the Rubies and there are a few ranches to deal with as well. The north east end of Ruby Valley (101) is good from experience. There's a ranch there but you can get on the backside of it and catch the deer coming in and out of the alfalfa fields sometimes. Only issue I have heard of there is one of the ranchers has grazing rights, and likes to tell people that means only he can hunt it with his guide service or some BS.
The area we have hunted the most is the south end of 102 around the Harrison Pass area. Green Mtn. creek is a personal favorite and for many others I have heard. You can hunt both sides of the Harrison Rd. with great access. Great camping too, especially near the summit. South of the road had a few great spots near the summit where you could find the bedding down with the elk in the tall grass. Lots of water in the area. If you have a horse or ATV or don't mind walking, you can pull a nice trophy out of there if you work for it.
The west side of 103 is pretty good too. IIRC the road we hunted from was BLM road 362. Should take you up to the old Mitchell Ranch house. A fire went through there years ago, and the crested wheat and wild grass grows heavy in areas. Lots of feed and water. They don't move much during the day, have to catch them coming to feed in the early AM and later PM hours. A couple of canyons north of Mitchell (not sure of name) has some springs and nice little lush hang outs they like to bed in. 103 east is really bad as it's the Ruby Marsh NWR and the mountains are so steep there are few roads, much like the east side of the Rubies in 102. No reason to go any farther south than the Hastings Cutoff/Pony Express Trail Road IMO.
108 I can say stay away from unless your friend really, really knows the area. And maybe has one tied to a post waiting for you. Even NDOW gives it very low success marks due to the low # of deer. Great antelope hunting though. Buck Mountain is nice, but from my experience has no bucks on it. 104 I only hunted the southern end (30 Mile road) with very low success. That area is a big migration area from what the ranchers and locals have told me, so it's really hard to find them since they move so much. Not a lot of feed and water to make them stick around.
Other than that, if you're not a truck hunter, you should do well. Lots of vehicle hunters in that area for some reason. The deer will gladly sit in the brush and watch you drive by all day.
And if you haven't been there, check out the town of Lamiolle, maybe grab a bite at the steak house. Pine House or something like that. That is if you still have an appetite from seeing all the deer sitting in people yards there.
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Have a Lion tag, put in for Elk points only this year. Looking forward to NV upland game and Deer in Texas with the in-laws.
